Sheet-container.



W. T. TREADWAY. SHEET CONTAINER. APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 9, 1914.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON, u c

W. T. TREADWAY.

SHEET CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 9, 1914.

PatentedSepb. 29, 1914.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

J0 Q 10 1 V4 THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

WILLIAM '1. TREADWAY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SHEET-CONTAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Se t. 29 1914 Application filed March 9, 1914. Serial No. 823,342.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, INILLIAM T. TREAD- WAY, a citizen of the United States residing at the city-of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Containers, of which i the following is a full, clear, and exact deaccompanying drawings, forming part of.

this specification. My invention relates to containers for removable sheets wherein it is desirable to secure and maintain the sheets in proper order for filing and inspection, and yet permit the quick and facile removal of any sheet 'for thepurpose of making entries thereon.

The invention relates particularly to the; binders or containers for account sheets, commonly known as the loose leaf sort, and is designed with special referenceto the use of such sheet-s in connection with type f writing or billing machines. In posting or writing upon a sheet with such a machine of the rotary platen type, it is necessary that the sheet be removed from its container or binder in order to be inserted in the machine. While this is being done, it is necessary that all of the other sheets be maintained in their proper order in the container or binder, and thatthe container or binder be safely and conveniently disposed so that the withdrawn sheet may be replaced in its proper place, and another selected sheet withdrawn. As is well known in the art, there are numerous forms .of suchloose or expansible binders and file cases, one of which I have illustrated for the purpose of disclosure in the accompanying drawings. In this form, the cover pieces are movable to and from each other so as to clamp the sheets between them when compressed and yet permit their removal when thebinder is expanded, the covers being held in any selected compressed position by a locking arrangement which is releasable by means of a key to permit the expansion of'the binder. i

As illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the principal object of my invention is to provide a construction of container which has extensible portions which are adapted to form feet or supports to hold the container in a partially open position, wherein the inspection and withdrawal of the sheets is convenient, and all the sheets held in a position wherein they will be secure against accidental displacement. I

In this connection, it is my purpose further to provide a construction of such nature that the extensible orsupporting portions may be folded in so as to form substantially a portion of the container or cover where they will be completely out of the way and offer no inconvenience to the handling and inspection of the contained sheets in the usualfashion in which a book is used.

It is also my purpose to provide a con struction which will form a convenient, economical, strong and sightly container or binder having the features and advantages enumerated above.

Figurel isa perspective illustrating my lIlVGIltlOIl in operative or open position. Fig. 2 is a perspective illustratingthe invention in closed position. Fig. 3 is a top view of one form of frame illustrating the construction. Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating a form of latch. Fig. 5 is a section illustrating one form of metal or fiber construction. Fig. 6 is a. section illustrating one form of fiber or board construction. Fig. 7 is a top view illustrating a modification.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the back members 1 are provided with attaching portions 2 which are slidable into andout of sleeve members 4. Proper securing means are provided to hold the back members 1 in selected compressed position, said securing means being operable by a key inserted in the key hole 5. The back members 1 act as covers to support and protect the sheets 6 which are removably mounted between the back portions 1, and whichmay be clamped between the back members 1 to prevent their removal. The back members 1 are hinged at 7 so that they may be swung to open and close the container, the portions 8 of the backs remaining in fixed position relative to each other to hold the bound edges of the sheets.

Hinged at 9 on the back members are the supports 10 which may be of any desired form. The desirable feature of these supports is, however, that when folded in they conform to the contour of the surface of the back portions so as to offer no obstructions or projections which might be bothersome in the handlin of the container.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the back portions may be pressed out of some suitable metal, such as aluminum, or molded out of stiff fiber. The support extends the full height of the back portions being hinged at 9in any convenient fashion and provided with suitable stops 11 adapted to contact with the innersurface of the back portion 1 to limit the outward swing of the support. The edges 10 and 1 of the supports 10 in their in-folded position, and permit their release so that they will assume their extended or out-folded position.

When it is desired to remove a sheet from the container or binder, the container is placed on its back as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the portion 8 forms a rest. The

container may then be expanded, and the supports 10 are released so that they swing outwardly. When the back members 1 are swung to open the container, the supports 10 contact with the desk or other support upon which the container may rest, and hold the back portions 1 in the proper divergent positions to permit the inspection and removal of the sheets 6. In this position, the sheets are safe and secure against disarrangement or accidental removal and the quick and facile removal and replacementof any selected sheet is possible.

Although I am aware that a great number and variety of modifications of the structure may be devised, I illustrate but a single modification in Fig. 7. In this form the supports 10 are not .co-extensive in height with the back portions 1, but are in the form of panels or legs set into the back portions, the construction being such that their outer surfaces are flush with the outer surfaces of the back portions when in their inward position. This construction is illustrated in section in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that my improvement provides a very convenient form of container for loose sheets of compact construction, and adapted to be both conveniently handled, and easily manipulated to support the sheets contained Gopies of this patent may be obtained for therein in position where they will be easily capable of inspection and removal, yet secure against disarrangement and displacement.

I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A container for sheets comprising at tached back portions hinged for convergent and divergent swinging movement and adapted to afford a support and covering for sheets, and extensible support members mounted on said back portions and adapted in their extended positions to support said back portions in a partially opened position, and in their retracted positions to conform to the surface contour of said back portions, releasable means for securing said support members in their retracted positions, and means for causing said support members to assume their extended positions.

2. y A container for sheets comprising hinged back portions adapted to support sheets therebetween, supports for said back portions hinged thereto, means for limiting the swinging movement of said supports in either direction, and means for holding said supports in either of their extreme positions.

3. A container for sheets comprising hinged back portions adapted to support sheets therebetween, supports for said back portions mounted thereon, and means for securing said supports in positions within the surface limits of said back portions.

1. A container for sheets comprising a cover adapted ,to support sheets, said cover being made up of back portions hinged together for swinging movement, supports adapted to limit the divergent movement of said back portions, and means impelling said supports for divergent movement.

5. A container for sheets having a hinged back portion, a support for said back portion foldable to the same into inoperative position, and from the same to operative position, and means for holding the support in its infolded and outfolded positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of March, 1914.

WILLIAM T. TREADVVAY.

Witnesses .M. P. SMITH, C. S. BUTLER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C. 

